34 Punjab millers to start flour fortification

LAHORE
Thirty flour millers from Punjab keeping public health interest in their mind voluntarily come ahead to start fortification of wheat flour.
Representatives of selected 30 flour mills vowed during an orientation meeting organized by the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) with the cooperation of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Lahore on Wednesday.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide the orientation to the flour millers regarding fortification of wheat flour and its modalities to start the production. The thirty-flour mills under the leadership of Asim Raza, Chairman Central Pakistan Flour Mills Association, publically committed flour fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid. The 2011 National Nutrition Survey revealed continued high rates of malnutrition in Pakistan with 44 per cent children stunted, 32 per cent underweight, and 62 per cent of children anemic. Flour fortification will help to address key micronutrient deficiencies in Pakistan among the population, including women of reproductive age and children.
The PFMA and the GAIN are working under an agreement to ensure availability of fortified wheat flour to people of Punjab, and their partnership will contribute in addressing iron deficiency anemia in the country.
In addition to that, the GAIN Pakistan is supporting the PFMA to strengthen the capacity of milling staff on fortification techniques through trainings and increasing community awareness on the health benefits of fortified wheat flour. Liaqat Ali Khan, Vice Chairman PFMA, said sustainable fortification of flour could be achieved through capacity building of milling staff and ensuring availability of fortification premix in open market. He said flour milling industry is taking this initiative as public health cause and play their role in addressing situation of malnutrition in the country.
Munawar Hussain, Programme Manager GAIN, said flour fortification with the iron and folic acid is one of the most cost effective means to reach the marginalized population. He also mentioned that the project has strong support from the provincial government and the other stakeholders which ensure its sustainability in the country.
Tariq Sarwar, technical Advisor PFMA and member of fortification committee, said the Punjab government already approved the mandatory fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid by making amendments in the pure food rules. We need to get ready and take up measures for its effective implementation as a part of responsibility of the industry. Sajjad Imran, Country Manager GAIN, highlighted that in addition to health impact, malnutrition has also adverse effects on the economy, and 2-3 per cent GDP could be lost due to deficiency of the micronutrients. He said today is the big day in the history of wheat flour fortification in Pakistan that 30 flour mills across the province are publically committing voluntarily fortification of wheat flour.
Chairman PFMA Central Asim Raza Ahmad said starting with 30 flour mills is just a beginning. We shall expand the fortification of wheat flour across the country with the support of the GAIN. He added that fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid is among our priorities to address the iron deficiency anemia, particularly in women and children. He further emphasized that market based approaches need to be adopted and industry should put efforts to promote fortified wheat flour which would contribute in addressing the grave situation of malnutrition in the country. The mother mortality rate and infant mortality rates could be brought down by adopting effecting approaches for fortification of food including wheat flour, he added.